Clarence secure gritty six-goal win in Baxter Norton’s TSL return

Clarence has secured a scrappy victory over Glenorchy with coach Peter Ryan pleased with a fourth-term fightback following a disappointing first three quarters. Read his thoughts.

Oscar Paprotny was one of Clarence’s best in the win. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones.

While disappointed with his sides’ performance across the first three quarters, Clarence coach Peter Ryan has praised their ability to produce a gritty fourth-quarter showing in Saturday’s 36-point win over Glenorchy.

The second-place Roos were challenged throughout the round 13 clash and despite the margin sitting at an even two-goals at the final break, the Roos kicked away in the final term to end up 11.6 (72) to 4.12 (36) winners and claim the Styles-Cooney Cup.

Glenorchy skipper Harrison Gunther was terrific in defence for the Magpies. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“The main message was it was pleasing to win but that we probably won ugly,” Ryan said post-match.

“I thought Glenorchy were exceptional for the three-quarters and were pretty poor. But we just seemed to do enough to hold them at bay. We challenged the group at three-quarter time to really step up and I thought they did that.

“Glenorchy really put us under the pump, they pressured us really well, moved the ball in the conditions really well and they challenged us and tested us at times and I thought we didn’t really respond until that last quarter.”

With both sides entering the contest fresh from a week off, it was as close a contest as they come throughout the majority of the opening three quarters but Glenorchy’s inaccuracy will no doubt be one thing coach Josh Arnold puts the loss down too during the review.

The Magpies produced one less scoring shot than Clarence and opened the contest with four straight behinds.

Clarence midfielder Baxter Norton made a successful return from a shoulder injury in Saturday’s win, spending plenty of time in the middle and halfback.

“He was really good. I thought he used the ball extremely well just with his levels of footy smarts,” Ryan said.

Noah Holmes kicked two goals in the win. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“We had him across halfback to start with and then in that third quarter when we had that breeze we put him back in the middle just to give us a bit more momentum and he seemed to do that and then we pushed him across halfback in the last just to give us a steady head.”

Experienced forward Josh Green (three goals) was lively inside 50 throughout for the victors while in-form ruck man Noah Holmes (two goals) was also one of the Roos’ best.

Glenorchy skipper Harrison Gunther was exceptional all day for his side while Connor and Liam Ling provided plenty of spark for the Magpies in the middle.